PHOTO: A University of British Columbia student studies under fall foliage on the campus in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday October 30, 2013.

The University of B.C. is considering installing closed circuit cameras in public areas, but won’t do so until a report on campus security is completed next year. An interim report — which won’t be available until late January at the earliest — is part of an initiative to investigate the level of security at UBC after six women were attacked on the Vancouver campus.

Lucie McNeill, UBC’s director of public affairs, said Friday that Barry Eccleton, director of campus security, is heading up the task force, which is examining the possibility of cameras along with several other safety measures. Eccleton will be making recommendations in a report to President Stephen Toope. McNeill said the president wouldn’t be making any move regarding security cameras without further consultation with the campus community because of concerns around privacy and civil liberties.

"It’s not something he, by fiat, would impose," she said. "There would be some consultation." Since April, there have been six sexual assaults on women on campus. The six attacks occurred April 19, May 19, Sept. 28, Oct. 13, Oct. 19 and Oct. 27. According to a description released by the RCMP, the suspect is Caucasian with slightly dark, tanned or olive skin, in his mid to late 20s, between 1.73 m (5’8") and 1.87 m (6’2"), with a thin build […]

Source www.vancouversun.com